SFGiants

April 06, 2013

Given the number of games (ten times as many) baseball doesn’t draw regular season crowds like football. But that doesn’t mean you gotta sit alone on your couch in your jersey to root for your favorite team, even if that team resides outside the five boroughs. If you’re looking for your kind, a good rule of thumb is to check out your usual NFL (or even NCAA) spot because often the affiliation is based on owner homesickness. Otherwise, check out the list below and be thankful you live in a city unafraid of opposing cheers, though we do not recommend, say, parading into Stan’s (836 River Ave., Bronx) in anything but pinstripes. Ditto for orange and blue (and black) at McFadden’s (36-2 126th Street, Flushing).

Finnerty’s is a no-brainer for fans of last year’s champs (and everything San Francisco sports, thanks to about a dozen 49ers fans who morphed into the hundreds and spun off). The World Series Trophy has been here - twice, of course - while on tour. And Giants CEO Larry Baer has stopped in and bought pizza for the house. Finnerty’s even organizes tickets and buses to NYC games when SF is in town. This year that means back-to-back Mets and Yankees series in September.

April 11, 2010

In honor of the Twins new ballpark - Target Field (pictured above and in a lovely album in the middle column) - officially opening tomrrow, Monday April 12th, 2010 when the team takes on the Red Sox at 3:10pm, here's a list of all 30 MLB Ballparks and the year they opened.

April 02, 2009

remember when Scoreboard Gourmet was going to be about weekends/nights that merged games and excellent restaurants? I know I said that somewhere. Well, this afternoon while waiting for the plumber to return (still no hot water in my kitchen sink) I am going to talk about one of the greatest restaurants in a town full of great restaurants - San Francisco's Quince.

last fall before a Raiders game (as in, the night before, not two hours before), my friend JWC and I had an insane dinner at Quince. the night was guided by maître d' Mark, who could not have been a better host. the restaurant is lucky to have him. and you know I believe that great staff is key.

this was my second time at Quince. the first time I had the tasting menu. this time we ordered à la carte, including cheese. seasonal and daily changes to menu based on farmers and weather, exactly how it should be. no more tomatoes in march. but I digress. the point is I do not need to mention specific dishes because the menu is ever changing, and everything - from pasta to sauces to salads to meticulous plating to perfectly cooked meats - is outstanding.

Why am I telling you today? Because the Giants and A's are playing Thursday(today)/Friday/Saturday, and the Giants Home Opener is Tuesday April 7th at 10:05p v the Brewers.

February 12, 2009

I"ve been thinking about Performance-Enhancing and I'm not convinced those are the right words to use when referring to steroids. A-Rod still had to swing the bat, Pettitte still had to throw the ball, and Giambi still had to fumble at first base.

I'm not saying I'm pro-drugs, but, as the person sitting next to me just pointed out, I'm not anti-drugs. Level playing field? Before 2004 there was "no penalty system" in MLB which means players were free to smoke 'em if they had 'em (though certain drugs were banned). It was a choice. Isn't entertainment the point of professional sports? Don't we like watching people hit further and run faster? It's not like steroids are a magic pill - I couldn't take them and hit and average of 42 home runs per season (A-Rod's 5 years in the Bronx).

Do not take this away from A-Rod (or us). That's dumb. Does this mean Hank Aaron was a better hitter than A-Rod? We can't know. Ever. Even sans steriods we couldn't know. Get over it.

The thing that I do oppose is lying. Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, Tejada and the hundreds of other players who are liars are idiots. It's like pretending you don't dye your hair or whiten your teeth. Be honest. It's like anonymous comments on blogs. Why so ashamed? Nothing is more important than being ok with who you are, and manners.

May 14, 2008

I'm not sure why or how the SFGiants Double-A team is in Connecticut. I am sure that Dodd Stadium, home of the Connecticut Defenders, is a fun, nicely-run park.

We were there for one of many pint glass giveaway nights (next one 5/24, then 5/31, 6/14, 6/21). And we hear that June 26th is the Gallo Wine Sampling night.

I have more to say and more pictures to add but needed to get this one up asap: what happens when my mom and buy three beers (Sam Adams though Saturdays are 2-for-$5 Bud days) and share the third? Well, the third becomes a peanut shell receptacle. Thankfully the glass was so full we could easily fish out the shells and enjoy the beer.

No Anchor Steam at Dodd Stadium (SF classic) but they do have Sierra Nevada.

April 26, 2008

Have to been to the new San Francisco Giants Food Court? It has a bunch of new concessions like: Orlando’s Caribbean Barbecue, the California Cookout, the Mission Street Carvery and Compadres.

And, skyline views of downtown SF,
Twin Peaks and the Bay Bridge can be more comfortably enjoyed with
the addition of a solid, glass structure to mitigate the wind, and a
drink rail running along the outer wall of the view concourse. Drink rails should be everywhere. But sometimes I do like a bit of wind.

April 22, 2008

The Astros are giving away canvas shopping bags and green caps today (players will wear the same). The SFGiants are not home today but everyone already knows they're the first team with a solar-powered scoreboard, right? Plus, they gave away reusable shopping bags last week.

And the Mariners are going Carbon-Neutral today (which means they will offset the global-warming impact of energy used at Safeco Field during the game).

MLB Global Warming Impacts Include:

*Emissions associated with electricity and natural gas used to operate the ballparks.
* Disposal or recycling of waste generated during the game.
* Air travel emissions for both teams and umpires for the game.
* Hotel-related emissions visiting teams and the umpires.
* Ground travel to and from the ballpark by staff and fans.